THERAPEUTIC AND PROGRESSIVE ASPECTS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES IN CHILDREN IN LIBREVILLE FROM 2019 TO 2023

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of chronic hyperglycemia resulting from a defect in insulin secretion or insulin action, or both. 
Objective: describe the therapeutic and progressive modalities of type 1 diabetes in children in Libreville. 
Methodology: cross-sectional, analytical study over a period of five years, in the pediatrics department of the Mother-Child University Hospital Center Fondation Jeanne Ebori (CHUME-FJE) and in the endocrinology department of the Libreville University Hospital Center (CHUL), including all children diabetics aged 0 to 17 received during the study period. 
Results: 107 children had type 1 diabetes, a prevalence of 1.21%, 25% had no health insurance and 69% of the children's parents had an economically weak Gabonese status. The basal-bolus regimen was the treatment regimen of choice in 73 patients, or 83%. The average length of hospitalization was 8.1 ±3.01 days. Children with low socioeconomic status had a shorter length of hospitalization than those without (P<0.02). During the study period, 50% were re-hospitalized for diabetic imbalance and the main factors of decompensation were therapeutic non-compliance (45%) and infection (41%). 
Conclusion: Diabetes is not rare in Gabon and its evolution has been alarming over the last five years, particularly in children. The lack of comprehensive and total care contributes to the poor prognosis observed.